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PEOPLE

Language
English is the official language, but Ga is the main local language. Fanti, Haussa, Fanteewe, Gaadanhe, Akan, Dagbandim and Mamprussi are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	23.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	23.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	22.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	22.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	22.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	21.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	21.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	20.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	20.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
45.2 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
There are seven main ethnic groups, include the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), 44 percent, in the mid-southern part of the country. There are Mossi-Dagomba, Ewe and Ga-Adangbe minorities, among others.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christianity 50 percent, traditional African religions 32 percent, Islam 13 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	49.3 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	48.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	47.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	47.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	46.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	45.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	44.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	44.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1954
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
71 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	39.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	39.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	40.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	40.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT

Climate description
Hot and humid tropical climate. April to July is the rainy season, with the coastal area drier than inland.

Currency
Cedi

Telephone dialling code
(+) 233

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	59.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	57.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	56.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	57.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	56.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	58.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	56.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	56.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	59.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	57.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	57.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	59.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	59.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	58.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	73 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	76 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	68 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	68 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	59 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	57 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	58 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	115 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	120 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	112 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	112 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	95 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	100 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	100 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	102 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	47 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	47 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	560 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	540 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	135	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	136	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	138	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	131	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	129	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	129	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	18 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	18 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	22 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	22 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	9 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	11 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	12 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	80 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	75 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	79 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	73 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	10 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	18 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	58 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	72 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	57.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	66.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	62.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	49.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	45.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	65.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	64.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	62.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	496 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	333 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	233 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	131 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	79 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	38 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	38 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	27 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	67 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	69 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	65 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	64 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	50	Transparency International
2001	59	Transparency International
2000	52	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	590 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	510 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	440 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	370 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	300 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	260 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	280 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	15.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	12.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	10.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	8.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	7.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	6.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	5.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	5.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	6.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	5.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	14.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	12.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	15.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	14.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	28.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	22.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	34.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	27.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
30.0 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	15 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	9 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	6 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	2.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	2.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	2.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	203 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	204 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	205 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	206 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	207 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	209 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	210 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	211 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	13239	UNHCR
2007	5060	UNHCR
2006	9960	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	18432	UNHCR
2004	14767	UNHCR
2003	15879	UNHCR
2002	15686	UNHCR
2001	14556	UNHCR
2000	14775	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	18206	UNHCR
2007	34958	UNHCR
2006	44938	UNHCR
2005	53537	UNHCR
2004	42053	UNHCR
2003	43947	UNHCR
2002	33515	UNHCR
2001	11792	UNHCR
2000	12720	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	0.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	No data available percent
1999-2001	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

NGO latest

Jobs